Residents quiz Wild Life teams

RESIDENTS had the chance to ask detailed questions about the Wild Life Festival at a public meeting last Wednesday.

Tables were laid out to deal with separate issues, like traffic, noise, security and policing.

The traffic table was by far the busiest, with residents in New Salts Farm Road asking how they would access their properties and others from Shoreham Beach questioning emergency access.

Adur Council handed out a factsheet with answers to generic questions on things like waste management, camping, staffing and business involvement.

Residents were told there would be a telephone number directly linked to the Wild Life event control office during the event, which will be publicised nearer the time.

Steve Walton, SJM Concerts’ event manager, said: “We were delighted to see so many residents in attendance and received some really positive feedback about the event, which was great to hear.

Residents were able to speak to the various teams individually, including Sussex Police, security and traffic

“There were some obvious concerns raised but we have a really robust Event Management Plan in place to ensure a safe, enjoyable and successful weekend for all.”

The dates for next year, June 11 and 12, 2016, were pasted on the walls, much to some residents’ surprise.

Adur Council staff pointed out the premises licence had been granted for the lifetime of the licence holder or venue.

A spokesman explained: “The licensing authority do not have the power to put a life-span on a licence. This holds true for any licensable activity - be it a music event, a new pub opening, a shop looking to sell alcohol, etc.

There were some obvious concerns raised but we have a really robust Event Management Plan in place to ensure a safe, enjoyable and successful weekend for all

Steve Walton, SJM Concerts’ event manager

“If SJM Ltd wanted to make changes to the event after this year - to increase the hours or the number of people attending for example - this would have to be done through a ‘variation’ to the licence.

“Any variation to a licence (for this or any other licenceable activity) has to go through the same stages as the initial application, including adverts in the paper and notices along the site’s boundary. At this point, the licencing authority and the public have the opportunity to make representations against the changes, and if relevant representation is received, the matter would be taken to the licensing committee for a hearing.

“Any retraction of the permissions granted in the existing licence can only be raised through a review process after the initial event has been staged. We are, naturally, hoping that this is not needed and are encouraged by the positive reaction to the consultation event last week that the community’s concerns are being listened to and dealt with.”

The council said some people had been expecting a formal question and answer panel discussion, but it appeared the individual experts seated at their tables offered a more informal method of consulting residents about their views, which was appreciated by attendees.